I’m currently reading Mary Janice Davidson’s “Royal Treatment“. I first came across this through a sneak preview in one of Kensington-Brava’s anthologies, and I finally got my hands on one.

I can’t really say that I’m a fan of Ms. Davidson’s work. As much as I like the plot of her stories, I personally do not enjoy her writing style. Blame it on being spoiled with the rather poetic and artistic writing style of Nora Roberts.

I was trying to pinpoint the reason why I am so dissatisfied with Ms. Davidson’s work. Going through “Royal Treatment” I finally realized why.

First off, the rapidfire conversations that confuse me. I know it’s a normal practice in writing conversation not to include the “he said, she said” parts,

“I don’t think I can make it,” he said.
She replied, “Yes you can! You can do it!”

especially if there’s only two people in the conversation. But then, the conversations in many of MJD’s work is like a real life conversation where two people talking and can’t seem to follow a coherent train of thought. That’s the second point, which is so closely tied up to the first that it’s hard to separate them. Many of the words in the conversation are unnecessary. It does establish a relationship, or rapport if you will, between the two characters, but I find it confusing at times. Often, I skim through the conversation and finish the story and I don’t feel like I missed anything.

I’m still finishing the story. Like I said, I like the plot of MJD’s stories, but writing style-wise, I’m still not sold. Then again, I’m not much of a writer myself, but as I reader, I do know what I like.